Semiconductor device including stack structure and trenches

ABSTRACT

A semiconductor device includes a plurality of blocks on a substrate. Trenches are disposed between the plurality of blocks. Conductive patterns are formed inside the trenches. A lower end of an outermost trench among the trenches is formed at a level higher than a level of a lower end of the trench adjacent to the outermost trench. Each of the blocks includes insulating layers and gate electrodes, which are alternately and repeatedly stacked. Pillars pass through the insulating layers and the gate electrodes along a direction orthogonal to an upper surface of the substrate.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This U.S. non-provisional patent application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2017-0106033, filed on Aug. 22, 2017, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept relate to a semiconductor device, and more particularly to a semiconductor device including a stack structure and trenches.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

A degree of integration of semiconductor devices may be increased by the lighting, thinning, and shortening of electronic devices. As an example, a technique using a stack structure in which insulating layers and electrode layers are alternately and repeatedly stacked on a substrate has been attempted. A plurality of cell blocks may be defined by a plurality of trenches which vertically pass through the stack structure and are in parallel. Each of the trenches may have a relatively high aspect ratio. In a semiconductor device including trenches, an outermost trench among the trenches may be vulnerable to various defects caused by mold leaning.

SUMMARY

An exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept provides a semiconductor device having a reduced number of defects occurring at edges of a cell array region and a relatively high degree of integration.

An exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept provides a method of forming a semiconductor device with a reduced number of defects occurring at edges of a cell array region and a relatively high degree of integration.

A semiconductor device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept includes a plurality of blocks on a substrate. Trenches are disposed between the plurality of blocks. Conductive patterns are formed inside the trenches. A lower end of an outermost trench among the trenches is formed at a level higher than a level of a lower end of the trench adjacent to the outermost trench. Each of the blocks includes insulating layers and gate electrodes, which are alternately and repeatedly stacked. Pillars pass through the insulating layers and the gate electrodes along a direction orthogonal to an upper surface of the substrate.

A semiconductor device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept includes a substrate having a main block region and a dummy block region which is continuous with the main block region. A plurality of main blocks are formed in the main block region on the substrate. A plurality of dummy blocks are formed in the dummy block region on the substrate. A plurality of main trenches are disposed between the main blocks. A plurality of dummy trenches are disposed between the dummy blocks. Main source lines are formed inside the main trenches, and dummy source lines are formed inside the dummy trenches. Each of the main blocks and the dummy blocks includes insulating layers and gate electrodes which are alternately and repeatedly stacked. Pillars are dimensioned and positioned to pass through the insulating layers and the gate electrodes along a direction orthogonal to an upper surface of the substrate. A lower end of an outermost dummy source line among the dummy source lines is formed at a level higher than levels of lower ends of the main source lines.

A semiconductor device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept includes a plurality of main blocks and a plurality of dummy blocks on a substrate. Main trenches are between the main blocks. Dummy trenches are between the dummy blocks. Main source lines are formed inside the main trenches. Dummy source lines are formed inside the dummy trenches. Each of the main blocks and the dummy blocks includes insulating layers and gate electrodes which are alternately and repeatedly stacked. Pillars are dimensioned and positioned to pass through the insulating layers and the gate electrodes along a direction orthogonal to an upper surface of the substrate. At least one dummy trench selected from among the dummy trenches has a width different from a width of each of the main trenches.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and aspects of the present inventive concept will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by describing exemplary embodiments thereof in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 to 6 are cross-sectional views illustrating a semiconductor device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept;

FIGS. 1 and 8 are each partially enlarged views illustrating a part of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of a semiconductor device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept;

FIG. 10 is a layout view of a semiconductor device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept;

FIGS. 11 to 18 are cross-sectional views taken along line I-I′ of FIG. 10 illustrating a method of forming a semiconductor device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept; and

FIG. 19 is a layout view of a semiconductor device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 to 6 are cross-sectional views illustrating a semiconductor device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept. FIGS. 7 and 8 are each partially enlarged views illustrating a part of FIG. 1. A semiconductor device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept may include a flash memory such as a vertical-NAND (VNAND) or a three dimensional NAND (3D-NAND) memory.

Referring to FIG. 1, a semiconductor device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept may include a cell array region having a main block region MB and a dummy block region DB. The dummy block region DB may be continuous with the main block region MB. The dummy block region DB may be provided at an edge of the cell array region. As an example, a substrate 21 may include the dummy block region DB and the main block region MB.

The semiconductor device may include insulating layers 25, mold layers 27, a first insulating interlayer 29, pillars 41 and 42, a second insulating interlayer 45, trenches 131, 132, 141, 142, and 143, impurity regions 47, a gate insulating layer 53, gate electrodes G1 to Gn, a spacer 55, source lines 151, 152, 161, 162, and 163, a third insulating interlayer 57, first bit plugs 61, sub-bit lines 63, a fourth insulating interlayer 65, second hit plugs 67, and bit lines 69, which are formed on a substrate 21 having the main block region MB and the dummy block region DB.

The pillars 41 and 42 may include cell pillars 41 formed in the main block region MB and dummy pillars 42 formed in the dummy block region DB. Each of the pillars 41 and 42 may include a semiconductor pattern 31, a channel structure 37, and a conductive pad 39. The channel structure 37 may include an information storage pattern 33, a channel pattern 34, and a core pattern 35.

The trenches 131, 132, 141, 142, and 143 may include a first main trench 131, a second main trench 132, a first dummy trench 141, a second dummy trench 142, and a third dummy trench 143. The trenches 131, 132, 141, 142, and 143 may be positioned in-parallel with each other. For example, an extending direction of each of the trenches 131, 132, 141, 142, and 143 may extend along a direction orthogonal to an upper surface of the substrate 21, and the extending directions of the trenches 131, 132, 141, 142, and 143 may be substantially parallel with each other. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the trenches 131, 132, 141, 142, and 143 may be referred to as a word line cut (WLCUT) or a common source line (CSL) trench. A first main block MB1, a second main block MB2, a third main block MB3, a first dummy block DB1, a second dummy block DB2, and a third dummy block DB3 may be defined by the trenches 131, 132, 141, 142, and 143.

The first main block MB1, the second main block MB2, and the third main block MB3 may be defined in the main block region MB. The first dummy block DB1, the second dummy block DB2, and the third dummy block DB3 may be defined in the dummy block region DB. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the second dummy block DB2 and the third dummy block DB3 may be selectively omitted. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the dummy block region DB may include 4 to 8 dummy blocks, but exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept are not limited thereto.

Each of the first main block MB1, the second main block MB2, the third main block MB3, the first dummy block DB1, the second dummy block DB2, and the third dummy block DB3 may include a stack structure in which the insulating layers 25 and the gate electrodes 01 to On are alternately and repeatedly stacked. Each of the first main block MB1, the second main block MB2, and the third main block MB3 may include the cell pillars 41 perpendicularly passing through the insulating layers 25 and the gate electrodes G1 to Gn (e.g., along the direction orthogonal to the upper surface of the substrate 21). Each of the first dummy block DB1, the second dummy block DB2, and the third dummy block DB3 may include the dummy pillars 42. The mold layers 27 may partially remain in the first dummy block DB1 and the second dummy block DB2. The mold layers 27 may be disposed between the insulating layers 25. Each of the mold layers 27 may be formed at a level substantially the same as a level of each of the gate electrodes G1 to Gn. The mold layers 27 may be in direct contact with side surfaces of the gate electrodes G1 to Gn. As an example, each of the mold layers 27 may be disposed on (e.g., may be in direct contact with) a portion of an upper surface of a respective insulating layer 25. For example, each of the mold layers 27 may be disposed on (e.g., may be in direct contact with) a portion of an upper surface of a respective insulating layer 25 on which a respective gate electrode (e.g., one of gate electrodes G1 to Gn) is not disposed. Thus, a respective gate electrode may be disposed on a first portion of a respective insulating later 25, while a mold layer 25 is disposed on a second portion of the respective insulating layer 25.

A first gate electrode G1 may correspond to a ground selection line GSL. Each of a second gate electrode G2 to an (n−2)^(th) gate electrode Gn−2 may correspond to a control gate line. Each of an (n−1)^(th) gate electrode Gn−1 and an n^(th) gate electrode Gn may correspond to a string selection line (SSL) or a drain selection line (DSL).

The first dummy block DB1 may be defined in an outermost region of the dummy block region DB (e.g., a region of the dummy block region relatively furthest away from the main block region MB). The first dummy trench 141 may be formed between the first dummy block DB1 and the second dummy block DB2. The first dummy trench 141 may be formed as an outermost trench among the trenches 131, 132, 141, 142, and 143. The first main trench 131, the second main trench 132, the second dummy trench 142, and the third dummy trench 143 may perpendicularly pass completely through the insulating layers 25 and the gate electrodes G1 to Gn (e.g., along the direction orthogonal to the upper surface of the substrate 21). Lower ends of the first main trench 131, the second main trench 132, the second dummy trench 142, and the third dummy trench 143 may be formed at levels lower than a level of an upper end of the substrate 21.

A lower end of the first dummy trench 141 may be formed at a level higher than the levels of the lower ends of the first main trench 131, the second main trench 132, the second dummy trench 142, and the third dummy trench 143. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the lower end of the first dummy trench 141 may be formed at a level higher than a level of a lowest layer among the mold layers 27. Lateral widths of the first main trench 131, the second main trench 132, the second dummy trench 142, and the third dummy trench 143 may be substantially the same as each other. For example, the lateral widths may be the same as each other along a direction parallel to the upper surface of the substrate 21. A lateral width of the first dummy trench 141 may be smaller than the lateral width of each of the first main trench 131, the second main trench 132, the second dummy trench 142, and the third dummy trench 143.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the lower end of the first dummy trench 141 may be formed at a level higher than a level of the first gate electrode G1. The lower end of the first dummy trench 141 may be formed between the first gate electrode G1 and the second gate electrode G2. The lower end of the first dummy trench 141 may be formed between the lowest layer among the mold layers 27 and the second gate electrode G2.

The impurity regions 47 may be in a position corresponding to a common source region. The source lines 151, 152, 161, 162, and 163 may include a first main source line 151, a second main source line 152, a first dummy source line 161, a second dummy source line 162, and a third dummy source line 163.

The first main source line 151, the second main source line 152, the second dummy source line 162, and the third dummy source line 163 may each be in direct contact with a respective one of the impurity regions 47. A lower end of the first dummy source line 161 may be in direct contact with a second lowest layer among the insulating layers 25. For example, the lower end of the first dummy source line 161 may be positioned between an upper surface and a lower surface of the second lowest layer among the insulating layers 25.

Lower ends of the first main source line 151, the second main source line 152, the second dummy source line 162, and the third dummy source line 163 may be formed at levels lower than the level of the upper end of the substrate 21. The lower end of the first dummy source line 161 may be formed at a level higher than the levels of the lower ends of the first main source line 151, the second main source line 152, the second dummy source line 162, and the third dummy source line 163. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the lower end of the first dummy source line 161 may be formed at a level higher than the lowest layer among the mold layers 27. Lateral widths of the first main source line 151, the second main source line 152, the second dummy source line 162, and the third dummy source line 163 may be substantially the same as each other. A lateral width of the first dummy source line 161 may be smaller than the lateral width of each of the first main source line 151, the second main source line 152, the second dummy source line 162, and the third dummy source line 163.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the lower end of the first dummy source line 161 may be formed at a level higher than the level of the first gate electrode G1. The lower end of the first dummy source line 161 may be formed between the first gate electrode G1 and the second gate electrode G2. The lower end of the first dummy source line 161 may be formed between the lowest layer among the mold layers 27 and the second gate electrode G2.

According to another embodiment of the present inventive concept (see, e.g., FIG. 1), a semiconductor device may include the substrate 21 including the main block region MB and the dummy block region DB. At least two main block pillars (e.g., 41) may be positioned in the main block region MB. At least two dummy pillars (e.g., 42) may be positioned in the dummy block region DB. At least two main block trenches (e.g., 131 and 132) may be positioned in the main block region MB. The at least two main block pillars may separate the at least two main block trenches from each other. A main source line (e.g., 151 and 152) may be positioned in each of the at least two main block trenches. At least two dummy block trenches 141, 142 and/or 143) may be positioned in the dummy block region DB. A dummy source line (e.g., 161, 162 or 163) may be positioned in each of the at least two dummy block trenches. Gate electrodes (e.g., Gn to G1) and insulating layers (e.g., 25) may be alternately and repeatedly stacked above the substrate 21. An extending direction of each of the gate electrodes and insulating layers may be perpendicular to an extending direction of the at least two main block pillars and the at least two dummy pillars. A lowermost level of one of the at least two dummy block trenches (e.g., 141) may be spaced further apart from an upper surface of the substrate 21 than a lowermost level of each of the at least two main block trenches (e.g., 131 and 132).

Referring to FIG. 2, a lateral width of a first dummy trench 141 may be substantially the same as a lateral width of each of a first main trench 131, a second main trench 132, a second dummy trench 142, and a third dummy trench 143. A lower end of the first dummy trench 141 may be formed at a level higher than levels of lower ends of the first main trench 131, the second main trench 132, the second dummy trench 142, and the third dummy trench 143. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the lower end of the first dummy trench 141 may be formed at a level higher than a level of a lowest layer among mold layers 27.

A lateral width of a first dummy source line 161 may be substantially the same as a lateral width of each of a first main source line 151, a second main source line 152, a second dummy source line 162, and a third dummy source line 163. The lower end of the first dummy source line 161 may be formed at a level higher than levels of lower ends of the first main source line 151, the second main source line 152, the second dummy source line 162, and the third dummy source line 163. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the lower end of the first dummy source line 161 may be formed at a level higher than the level of the lowest layer among the mold layers 27.

Referring to FIG. 3, a lower end of a second dummy trench 142 may be formed at a level higher than levels of lower ends of a first main trench 131, a second main trench 132, and a third dummy trench 143. The lower end of the second dummy trench 142 may be formed at a level lower than a level of a lower end of a first dummy trench 141. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the second dummy trench 142 may be positioned and dimensioned to pass through a first gate electrode G1 (e.g., along the direction orthogonal to the upper surface of the substrate 21), and the lower end of the second dummy trench 142 may be formed at a level higher than a level of an upper end of a substrate 21.

A lower end of a second dummy source line 162 may be formed at a level higher than levels of lower ends of a first main source line 151, a second main source line 152, and a third dummy source line 163. The lower end of the second dummy source line 162 may be formed at a level lower than a level of lower end of a first dummy source line 161. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the lower end of the second dummy source line 162 may be formed at a level higher than the level of the upper end of the substrate 21.

Referring to FIG. 4, a lower end of a second dummy trench 142 may be formed at a level higher than levels of lower ends of a first main trench 131, a second main trench 132, and a third dummy trench 143. The lower end of the second dummy trench 142 may be formed at a level lower than a level of a lower end of a first dummy trench 141. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the lower ends of the second dummy trench 142 and the first dummy trench 141 may be formed at levels lower than a level of an upper end of a substrate 21.

A lower end of a second dummy source line 162 may be formed at a level higher than levels of lower ends of a first main source line 151, a second main source line 152, and a third dummy source line 163. The lower end of the second dummy source line 162 may be formed at a level lower than a level of a lower end of a first dummy source line 161. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the lower ends of the second dummy source line 162 and the first dummy source line 161 may be formed at levels lower than the level of the upper end of the substrate 21.

Referring to FIG. 5, the semiconductor device may include lower insulating layers 25, lower mold layers 27, first insulating interlayer 29, lower pillars 41 and 42, upper insulating layers 225, upper mold layers 227, upper pillars 241 and 242, second insulating interlayer 45, trenches 131, 132, 141, 142, and 143, impurity regions 47, gate insulating layer 53, gate electrodes G1 to Gn and Gm−4 to Gm, spacer 55, source lines 151, 152, 161, 162, and 163, third insulating interlayer 57, first bit plugs 61, sub-bit lines 63, fourth insulating interlayer 65, a fifth insulating interlayer 229, second bit plugs 67, and bit lines 69, which are formed on the substrate 21.

The lower insulating layers 25, the lower mold layers 27, the first insulating interlayer 29, the gate electrodes GI to Gn, and the lower pillars 41 and 42 may be included in a lower stack structure. The upper insulating layers 225, the upper mold layers 227, the gate electrodes Gm−4 to Gm, the upper pillars 241 and 242, and the fifth insulating interlayer 229 may be included in an upper stack structure. The semiconductor device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept may have a dual-stack structure, in an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the semiconductor device may have a multi-stack structure.

The lower pillars 41 and 42 may include lower cell pillars 41 and lower dummy pillars 42. Each of the lower pillars 41 and 42 may include a semiconductor pattern 31, a lower channel structure 37, and a lower conductive pad 39. The lower channel structure 37 may include a lower information storage pattern 33, a lower channel pattern 34, and a lower core pattern 35. The upper pillars 241 and 242 may include upper cell pillars 241 formed on the lower cell pillars 41 and upper dummy pillars 242 formed on the lower dummy pillars 42. Each of the upper pillars 241 and 242 may include an upper Channel structure 237 and an upper conductive pad 239. Upper conductive pads 239 may be disposed on top surfaces of each of the upper pillars 241 and 242. The upper channel structure 237 may include an upper information storage pattern 233, an upper channel pattern 234, and an upper core pattern 235.

The upper insulating layers 225, the upper mold layers 227, the fifth insulating interlayer 229, the gate electrodes Gm−4 to Gm, the upper channel structure 237, and the upper conductive pad 239 may include materials which are substantially the same as materials of the lower insulating layers 25, the lower mold layers 27, the first insulating interlayer 29, the gate electrodes G1 to Gn, the lower channel structure 37, and the lower conductive pad 39, respectively, and may be respectively formed using a similar method as for forming the lower insulating layers 25, the lower mold layers 27, the first insulating interlayer 29, the gate electrodes G1 to Gn, the lower channel structure 37, and the lower conductive pad 39.

Referring to FIG. 6, the semiconductor device may include lower insulating layers 25, lower mold layers 27, first insulating interlayer 29, upper insulating layers 225, upper mold layers 227, pillars 41 and 42, second insulating interlayer 45, trenches 131, 132, 141, 142, and 143, impurity regions 47, gate insulating layer 53, gate electrodes G1 to Un and Gm−4 to Gm, spacer 55, source lines 151, 152, 161, 162, and 163, third insulating interlayer 57, first bit plugs 61, sub-hit lines 63, fourth insulating interlayer 65, fifth insulating interlayer 229, second bit plugs 67, and hit lines 69, which are formed on the substrate 21.

The lower insulating layers 25, the lower mold layers 27, the first insulating interlayer 29, and the gate electrodes G1 to Gn may be included in a lower stack structure. The upper insulating layers 225, the upper mold layers 227, the gate electrodes Gm−4 to Gm, and the fifth insulating interlayer 229 may be included in an upper stack structure. The semiconductor device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept may have a dual-stack structure. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the semiconductor device may have a multi-stack structure.

The pillars 41 and 42 may include cell pillars 41 and dummy pillars 42. Each of the pillars 41 and 42 may include semiconductor pattern 31, channel structure 37, and conductive pad 239. The channel structure 37 may include information storage pattern 33, channel pattern 34, and core pattern 35. Each of the pillars 41 and 42 may pass through the upper stack structure and the lower stack structure.

According to the an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the main trenches 131 and 132 defining the main Hocks MB1, MB2, and MB3 and the dummy trenches 141, 142, and 143 defining the dummy blocks DB1, DB2, and DB3 may be formed. The main source lines 151 and 152 may be respectively formed inside the main trenches 131 and 132, and the dummy source lines 161, 162, and 163 may be respectively formed inside the dummy trenches 141, 142, and 143. The lower end of the first dummy trench 141 may be formed at a level higher than the levels of the lower ends of the main trenches 131 and 132. The lower end of the first dummy source line 161 may be formed at a level higher than the levels of the lower ends of the main source lines 151 and 152. Due to a configuration of the first dummy trench 141 and the first dummy source line 161, the number of defects occurring at the edge of the cell array region (e.g., at the outermost edge of the dummy block region DB) can be significantly reduced. Thus, sizes and the number of the dummy blocks DB1, DB2, and DB3 can be minimized.

Referring to FIG. 7, the information storage pattern 33 may include a tunnel insulating layer 71, a charge storage layer 72 which surrounds an outer side of the tunnel insulating layer 71, and a first blocking layer 73 which surrounds an outer side of the charge storage layer 72. A second blocking layer 75 may cover upper surfaces and lower surfaces of gate electrodes G1 to Gn and may be disposed between the gate electrodes G1 to Gn and the first blocking layer 73.

Referring to FIG. 8, the information storage pattern 33 may include the tunnel insulating layer 71, the charge storage layer 72 which surrounds an outer side of the tunnel insulating layer 71, and the first blocking layer 73 which surrounds an outer side of the charge storage layer 72. The first blocking layer 73 may be in direct contact with gate electrodes G1 to Gn. The second blocking layer 75 (see FIG. 7) may be omitted and thus the first blocking layer 73 may be in direct contact with gate electrodes G1 to Gn when the second blocking layer 75 is omitted.

FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of a semiconductor device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.

Referring to FIG. 9, bottoms of trenches 131, 132, 141, 142, and 143 may be formed to be rounded and pointed. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, lower regions of the trenches 131, 132, 141, 142, and 143 may be formed to be tapered along a downward direction (e.g., along the direction orthogonal to the upper surface of the substrate 21). Lower ends of source lines 151, 152, 161, 162, and 163 may be formed to be rounded and pointed. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, lower regions of the source lines 151, 152, 161, 162, and 163 may be formed to be tapered along a downward direction (e.g., along the direction orthogonal to the upper surface of the substrate 21).

FIG. 10 is a layout view of a semiconductor device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept. FIGS. 11 to 18 are cross-sectional views taken along line I-I′ of FIG. 10 illustrating a method of forming a semiconductor device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, FIG. 10 may illustrate a part of a cell array region of a VNAND memory.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, insulating layers 25 and mold layers 27 may be formed on the substrate 21 having the main block region MB and the dummy block region DB. The insulating layers 25 and the mold layers 27 may be alternately and repeatedly stacked.

The substrate 21 may include a semiconductor substrate such as a silicon wafer or a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer. For example, the substrate 21 may be a single crystalline silicon wafer including P-type impurities such as boron (B).

The mold layers 27 may include a material having etch selectivity with respect to the insulating layers 25. For example, the insulating layers 25 may include silicon oxide, and the mold layers 27 may include silicon nitride. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the insulating layers 25 and the mold layers 27 may be formed in the same chamber as each other using an in-situ process. As an example, the insulating layers 25 and the mold layers 27 may be formed using various types of a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method or an atomic layer deposition (ALD) method.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 12, in an edge of the dummy block region DB, edges of the insulating layers 25 and the mold layers 27 may be patterned and have a stepped structure. A first insulating interlayer 29 may be formed on the substrate 21. The first insulating interlayer 29 may cover the edges of the insulating layers 25 and the mold layers 27, which are formed to have the stepped structure. The edges of the insulating layers 25 and the mold layers 27 may face along a direction parallel to an upper surface of the substrate 21. The first insulating interlayer 29 may include an insulating material such as silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, or a combination thereof.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 13, pillars 41 and 42 may be formed to pass through the insulating layers 25 and the mold layers 27 (e.g., along the direction orthogonal to the upper surface of the substrate 21). The pillars 41 and 42 may include cell pillars 41 formed in the main block region MB and dummy pillars 42 formed in the dummy block region DB. Each of the pillars 41 and 42 may include the semiconductor pattern 31, the channel structure 37, and the conductive pad 39. The channel structure 37 may include the information storage pattern 33, the channel pattern 34, and the core pattern 35.

The semiconductor pattern 31 may be in direct contact with the substrate 21. For example, the semiconductor pattern 31 may be in direct contact with an upper portion of the substrate 21. A lower surface of the semiconductor pattern 31 may be positioned below an upper surface of the substrate 21. The semiconductor pattern 31 may be formed using a selective epitaxial growth (SEG) process. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the semiconductor pattern 31 may include single crystalline silicon having P-type impurities. The channel structure 37 may be formed on the semiconductor pattern 31. A process of forming a plurality of thin films and an etch-back process may be applied as a process of forming the channel structure 37.

The core pattern 35 may include an insulator including silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, or a combination thereof. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the core pattern 35 may include polysilicon. The channel pattern 34 may surround a side surface and a lower portion of the core pattern 35. The channel pattern 34 may include a semiconductor layer such as a polysilicon layer. The channel pattern 34 may be in direct contact with the semiconductor pattern 31. The information storage pattern 33 may be formed to surround an outer side of the channel pattern 34.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, (see, e.g., FIGS. 7 and 8), the information storage pattern 33 may include the tunnel insulating layer 71, the charge storage layer 72 which surrounds an outer side of the tunnel insulating layer 71, and the first blocking layer 73 which surrounds an outer side of the charge storage layer 72. The information storage pattern 33 may include a plurality of insulating layers including silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, a high-K dielectric, or a combination thereof in an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the tunnel insulating layer 71 may include silicon oxide, the charge storage layer 72 may include silicon nitride, and the first blocking layer 73 may include aluminum oxide (AlO).

The conductive pad 39 may be formed on the channel structure 37. The conductive pad 39 may be formed using a process of forming a thin film and a planarization process. The planarization process may include a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process, an etch-back process, or a combination thereof. The conductive pad 39 may be in direct contact with the channel structure 37. The conductive pad 39 may include a conductive material such as polysilicon, a metal, a metal silicide, a metal oxide, a metal nitride, conductive carbon, or a combination thereof.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 14, the second insulating interlayer 45 may be formed to cover the pillars 41 and 42. The second insulating interlayer 45 may include an insulating layer including silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, a low-K dielectric, or a combination thereof. Trenches 131, 132, 141, 142, and 143 may be formed to pass through the second insulating interlayer 45, the insulating layers 25, and the mold layers 27 (e.g., along the direction orthogonal to the upper surface of the substrate 21). The trenches 131, 132, 141, 142, and 143 may include a first main trench 131, a second main trench 132, a first dummy trench 141, a second dummy trench 142, and a third dummy trench 143. A first main block MB1, a second main block MB2, a third main block MB3, a first dummy block DB1, a second dummy block DB2, and a third dummy block DB3 may be defined by the trenches 131, 132, 141, 142, and 143.

A patterning process may be applied as a process of forming the trenches 131, 132, 141, 142, and 143. A hard mask pattern may be formed on the second insulating interlayer 45.

The first dummy block DB1 may be defined in an outermost region of the dummy block region DB (e.g., a region of the dummy block region DB relatively furthest away from the main block region MB). The first dummy trench 141 may be formed between the first dummy block DB1 and the second dummy block DB2. The first dummy trench 141 may be formed as an outermost trench among the trenches 131, 132, 141., 142, and 143. The first main trench 131, the second main trench 132, the second dummy trench 142, and the third dummy trench 143 may perpendicularly pass completely through the insulating layers 25 and the mold layers 27 (e.g., along the direction orthogonal to the upper surface of the substrate 21). Lower ends of the first main trench 131, the second main trench 132, the second dummy trench 142, and the third dummy trench 143 may be formed at levels lower than a level of an upper end of the substrate 21.

A lower end of the first dummy trench 141 may be formed at a level higher than the levels of the lower ends of the first main trench 131, the second main trench 132, the second dummy trench 142, and the third dummy trench 143. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the lower end of the first dummy trench 141 may be formed at a level higher than a level of a lowest layer among the mold layers 27. A second layer among the insulating layers 25 may be exposed at a bottom of the first dummy trench 141. Lateral widths of the first main trench 131, the second main trench 132., the second dummy trench 142, and the third dummy trench 143 may be substantially the same as each other. A lateral width of the first dummy trench 141 may be smaller than the lateral width of each of the first main trench 131, the second main trench 132, the second dummy trench 142, and the third dummy trench 143.

Impurity regions 47 may be formed in the substrate 21 at which lower portions of the first main trench 131, the second main trench 132, the second dummy trench 142, and the third dummy trench 143 are exposed. The impurity regions 47 may be formed using an ion implanting process. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the impurity regions 47 may include N-type impurities such as phosphorus (P) or arsenic (As). The impurity regions 47 may correspond to a common source region.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 15, openings 49 which communicate with (e.g., are connected with) the trenches 131, 132, 141, 142, and 143 may be formed by removing the mold layers 27. An isotropic etching process may be used as a process of removing the mold layers 27. The mold layers 27 may partially remain in the first dummy block DB1 and the second dummy block DB2.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 16, a gate insulating layer 53 and gate electrodes GI to Gn may be formed.

The gate insulating layer 53 may be formed on a side surface of the semiconductor pattern 31 exposed inside the openings 49. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the gate insulating layer 53 may include a thermal oxide layer. A process of forming a thin film and an etching process may be applied as a process of forming the gate electrodes G1 to Gn. The etching process may include an anisotropic etching process, an isotropic etching process, or a combination thereof. The gate electrodes G1 to Gn may be formed inside the openings 49. The gate electrodes G1 to Gn may include a conductive material such as a metal, a metal silicide, a metal oxide, a metal nitride, polysilicon, conductive carbon, or a combination thereof. For example, the gate electrodes G1 to Gn may include Ti, TiN, Ta, TaN, W, WN, Ru, Pt, or a combination thereof.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, before the gate electrodes G1 to Gn are formed, the second blocking layer 75 may be formed (see, e.g., FIG. 7). The second blocking layer 75 may cover upper surfaces and lower surfaces of the gate electrodes G1 to Gn and may be disposed between the gate electrodes G1 to Gn and the first blocking layer 73. The second blocking layer 75 may include an insulating layer including silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, a high-K dielectric, or a combination thereof.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 17, the spacer 55 and source lines 151, 152, 161, 162, and 163 may be formed inside the trenches 131, 132, 141, 142, and 143. The source lines 151, 152, 161. 162, and 163 may include a first main source line 151, a second main source line 152, a first dummy source line 161, a second dummy source line 162, and a third dummy source line 163.

The spacer 55 may be formed using a process of forming a thin film and an anisotropic etching process. The spacer 55 may cover side walls of the trenches 131, 132, 141, 142, and 143. The spacer 55 may include an insulating layer including silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, a high-K dielectric, a low-K dielectric, or a combination thereof. While a process of forming the spacer 55 is performed, bottoms of the trenches 131, 132, 141, 142, and 143 may be recessed downward. The source lines 151, 152, 161, 162, and 163 may substantially fill the trenches 131, 132, 141, 142, and 143.

A process of forming a thin film and a planarization process may be applied as a process of forming the source lines 151, 152, 161, 162, and 163. The source lines 151, 152, 161, 162, and 163 may include a conductive material such as a metal, a metal silicide, a metal oxide, a metal nitride, polysilicon, conductive carbon, or a combination thereof. For example, the source lines 151, 152, 161, 162, and 163 may include a W layer and a TiN layer which surrounds a side surface and a lower end of the W layer. The spacer 55 may be disposed between the source lines 151, 152, 161, 162, and 163 and the gate electrodes to On. The first main source line 151., the second main source line 152, the second dummy source line 162, and the third dummy source line 163 may be in direct contact with the impurity region 47. A lower end of the first dummy source line 161 may be in direct contact with a second layer among the insulating layers 25. For example, the lower end of the first dummy source line 161 may be positioned between upper and lower surfaces of a second layer among the insulating layers 25.

Lower ends of the first main source line 151, the second main source line 152, the second dummy source line 162, and the third dummy source line 163 may be formed at levels lower than a level of an upper end of the substrate 21. The lower end of the first dummy source line 161 may be formed at a level higher than the levels of the lower ends of the first main source line 151, the second main source line 152, the second dummy source line 162., and the third dummy source line 163. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the lower end of the first dummy source line 161 may be formed at a level higher than a level of a lowest layer among the mold layers 27. Lateral widths of the first main source line 151, the second main source line 152, the second dummy source line 162, and the third dummy source line 163 may be substantially the same as each other. A lateral width of the first dummy source line 161 may be smaller than the lateral width of each of the first main source line 151, the second main source line 152, the second dummy source line 162, and the third dummy source line 163.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, each of the source lines 151, 152, 161, 162, and 163 may include a plurality of source plugs.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 18, the third insulating interlayer 57 may be formed on the source lines 151, 152, 161, 162, and 163 and the second insulating interlayer 45. First bit plugs 61 may be formed to pass through the third insulating interlayer 57 and the second insulating interlayer 45 (e.g., along the direction orthogonal to the upper surface of the substrate 21) to be in direct contact with the cell pillars 41. Sub-bit lines 63 may be formed on the third insulating interlayer 57 to be in direct contact with the first bit plugs 61.

The third insulating interlayer 57 may include an insulating layer including silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, a low-K dielectric, or a combination thereof. The first bit plugs 61 and the sub-bit lines 63 may include a conductive material such as a metal, a metal silicide, a metal oxide, a metal nitride, polysilicon, conductive carbon, or a combination thereof.

Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 10, the fourth insulating interlayer 65 may be formed to cover the sub-bit lines 63 on the third insulating interlayer 57. Second bit plugs 67 may be formed to pass through the fourth insulating interlayer 65 to be in direct contact with the sub-bit lines 63. Bit lines 69 may be formed on the fourth insulating interlayer 65 to be in direct contact with the second bit plugs 67.

The fourth insulating interlayer 65 may include an insulating layer including silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, a low-K dielectric, or a combination thereof. The second bit plugs 67 and the bit lines 69 may include conductive material such as a metal, a metal silicide, a metal oxide, a metal nitride, polysilicon, conductive carbon, or a combination thereof.

FIG. 19 is a layout view of a semiconductor device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.

Referring to FIG. 19, a semiconductor device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept may include a cell array region including the main block region MB and the dummy block region DB. The semiconductor device may include first to ninth channel holes H1, H2, H3, H4, H5, H6, H7, H8, and H9, first to ninth cell pillars 41A, 41B, 41C, 41D, 41E, 41F, 41G, 41H, and 41I, the first main trench 131, the second main trench 132, the first dummy trench 141, the first main source line 151, the second main source line 152, the first dummy source line 161, a sub-trench 435, an insulating pattern 455, and hit lines 69, which are formed on the substrate 21 including the main block region MB and the dummy block region DB.

A second main block MB2 may be defined between the first main trench 131 and the second main trench 132. The first to ninth cell pillars 41A, 41B, 41C, 41D, 41E, 41F, 41G, 41H, and 41I may be formed inside the first to ninth channel holes H1, H2, H3, H4, H5, H6, H7, H8, and H9. The second main block MB2 may include the first to fifth channel holes H1, H2, H3, H4, and H5 arranged in a first row direction, the sixth to ninth channel holes H6, H7, H8, and H9 arranged in a second row direction, and the insulating pattern 455 formed inside the sub-trench 435. The first to ninth cell pillars 41A, 41B, 41C, 4E, 41E, 41F, 41G, 41H, and 41I may include a configuration similar to the configuration of the cell pillars 41 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. The insulating pattern 455 may include silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, or a combination thereof.

The first channel hole H1 may be adjacent to the first main trench 131, the fifth channel hole H5 may be adjacent to the second main trench 132, the third channel hole H3 may be arranged between the first channel hole H1 and the fifth channel hole H5, the second channel hole H2 may be arranged between the first channel hole and the third channel hole H3, and the fourth channel hole H4 may be arranged between the third channel hole H3 and the fifth channel hole H5. The sixth channel hole H6 may be adjacent to the first main trench 131, the ninth channel hole H9 may be adjacent to the second main trench 132, the seventh channel hole H7 may be arranged between the sixth channel hole H6 and the ninth channel hole H9, and the eighth channel hole H8 may be arranged between the seventh channel hole H7 and the ninth channel hole H9. The sixth channel hole H6 may be arranged between the first channel hole H1 and the second channel hole H2, the seventh channel hole H7 may be arranged between the second channel hole H2 and the third channel hole H3, the eighth channel hole H8 may be arranged between the third channel hole H3 and the fourth channel hole H4, and the ninth channel hole H9 may be arranged between the fourth channel hole H4 and the fifth channel hole H5.

The first main trench 131 may be parallel to the second main trench 132. The sub-trench 435 may be disposed between the first main trench 131 and the second main trench 132. The sub-trench 435 may cross the third channel hole H3 and may extend between the seventh channel hole H7 and the eighth channel hole H8. The second main block MB2 may be divided into a first sub-block MB21 and a second sub-block MB22 by the sub-trench 435. The first sub-block MB21 may include the first channel hole H1, the second channel hole H2, the sixth channel hole H6, and the seventh channel hole H7. The second sub-block MB22 may include the fourth channel hole H4, the fifth channel hole H5, the eighth channel hole H8, and the ninth channel hole H9.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, main trenches defining main blocks and dummy trenches defining dummy blocks may be provided. Main source lines may be formed inside the main trenches, and dummy source lines may be formed inside the dummy trenches. A lower end of an outermost dummy trench among the dummy trenches may be formed at a level higher than levels of lower ends of the main trenches. A lower end of an outermost dummy source line among the dummy source lines may be formed at a level higher than levels of lower ends of the main source lines. The number of defects occurring at edges of a cell array region can be significantly reduced by the configurations of the outermost dummy trench and the outermost dummy source line. Sizes and the number of the dummy blocks can be minimized. Thus, a semiconductor device having a relatively high degree of integration with a relatively low occurrence of defects may be realized.

While the inventive concept has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventive concept. 

1. A semiconductor device comprising: a plurality of blocks on a substrate; trenches between the plurality of blocks; and conductive patterns inside the trenches, wherein a lower end of an outermost trench among the trenches is formed at a level higher than a level of a lower end of the trench adjacent to the outermost trench, and each of the blocks includes insulating layers and gate electrodes, which are alternately and repeatedly stacked, and pillars passing through the insulating layers and the gate electrodes along a direction orthogonal to an upper surface of the substrate.
 2. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the lower end of the trench adjacent to the outermost trench is formed at a level lower than a level of an upper end of the substrate.
 3. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the lower end of the outermost trench is formed at a level higher than a level of a lowest gate electrode among the gate electrodes.
 4. The semiconductor device of claim 3, wherein the lower end of the outermost trench is formed at a level lower than a level of a second lowest gate electrode among the gate electrodes.
 5. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the lower end of the outermost trench is formed at a level lower than a level of an upper end of the substrate.
 6. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein a lateral width of the outermost trench is smaller than a lateral width of the trench adjacent to the outermost trench.
 7. A semiconductor device comprising: a substrate having a main block region and a dummy block region which is continuous with the main block region; a plurality of main blocks formed in the main block region on the substrate and a plurality of dummy blocks formed in the dummy block region on the substrate; a plurality of main trenches between the main blocks and a plurality of dummy trenches between the dummy blocks; and main source lines inside the main trenches and dummy source lines inside the dummy trenches, wherein each of the main blocks and the dummy blocks includes: insulating layers and gate electrodes which are alternately and repeatedly stacked; and pillars positioned and dimensioned to pass through the insulating layers and the gate electrodes along a direction orthogonal to an upper surface of the substrate, and a lower end of an outermost dummy source line among the dummy source lines is formed at a level higher than levels of lower ends of the main source lines.
 8. The semiconductor device of claim 7, wherein the lower ends of the main source lines are formed at levels lower than a level of an upper end of the substrate.
 9. The semiconductor device of claim 7, wherein the dummy source lines include: a first dummy source line adjacent to an outermost edge of the dummy block region; and a second dummy source line formed between the first dummy source line and the main source lines, wherein a lower end of the first dummy source line is formed at a level higher than a level of a lower end of the second dummy source line.
 10. The semiconductor device of claim 9, wherein the lower end of the second dummy source line is formed at a level higher than the levels of the lower ends of the main source lines.
 11. The semiconductor device of claim 9, wherein the lower end of the first dummy source line is formed at a level higher than a level of a lowest gate electrode among the gate electrodes.
 12. The semiconductor device of claim 11, wherein the lower end of the second dummy source line is formed at a level higher than a level of an upper end of the substrate.
 13. The semiconductor device of claim 11, wherein the lower end of the second dummy source line is formed at a level lower than the level of the lowest gate electrode among the gate electrodes.
 14. The semiconductor device of claim 9, wherein a lower region of the first dummy source line is tapered downward.
 15. The semiconductor device of claim 9, wherein a lateral width of the first dummy source line is smaller than a lateral width of each of the main source lines.
 16. The semiconductor device of claim 9, wherein the dummy blocks include; a first dummy block adjacent to the outermost edge of the dummy block region; and a second dummy block formed between the first dummy block and the main blocs, wherein the first dummy source line is formed between the first dummy block and the second dummy block.
 17. The semiconductor device of claim 16, wherein the first dummy block further includes mold layers formed between the insulating layers and formed at levels substantially the same as levels of the gate electrodes.
 18. The semiconductor device of claim 17, wherein the lower end of the first dummy source line is formed at a level higher than a level of a lowest mold layer among the mold layers. 19-20. (canceled)
 21. A semiconductor device, comprising: a substrate comprising a main block region and a dummy block region; at least two main block pillars positioned in the main block region; at least two dummy pillars positioned in the dummy block region; at least two main block trenches positioned in the main block region, wherein the at least two main block pillars separate the at least two main block trenches from each other, and wherein a main source line is positioned in each of the at least two main block trenches; at least two dummy block trenches positioned in the dummy block region, wherein a dummy source line is positioned in each of the at least two dummy block trenches; and gate electrodes and insulating layers alternately and repeatedly stacked above the substrate, wherein an extending direction of each of the gate electrodes and insulating layers is perpendicular to an extending direction of the at least two main block pillars and the at least two dummy pillars, wherein a lowermost level of one of the at least two dummy block trenches is spaced further apart from an upper surface of the substrate than a lowermost level of each of the at least two main block trenches.
 22. The semiconductor device of claim 21, wherein the source line positioned in the one of the at least two dummy block trenches is spaced apart from an upper surface of the substrate. 